Iowa State Student Who Helped Change Iowa Gun Law as a Kid Sues Ames Over CyRide Bus Gun Ban

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AMES, IA — An Iowa State University student who helped change Iowa gun law as a tween is now suing the city of Ames over a CyRide bus policy that bars her from carrying. She holds a valid Iowa carry permit.

As reported by NSSF, the student is Natalie Gibson. She and her sister, Meredith, were young competitive shooters who advocated for the youth handgun provisions in Iowa’s 2017 House File 517. Before that change, younger children could not shoot handguns even with a parent supervising. The new law let children learn under adult supervision.

Now the issue is getting around town. CyRide is the public bus system in Ames, home of Iowa State. According to NSSF, complying with the ban can mean leaving her firearm at home for the entire trip. That includes the walk to the stop and wherever she goes after she steps off the bus.

The Iowa Firearms Coalition laid out the case in an Oct. 26, 2026 statement, as NSSF describes it. The lawsuit is in Story County District Court. It asks the court to declare that the bus policy violates state law and to issue an injunction, an order barring the city from enforcing it. It also seeks statutory damages and attorney fees.

According to the coalition’s account, Ames was warned on or about Oct. 24, 2025 that CyRide’s prohibition violated Iowa law. The city allegedly acknowledged the state law in question but defended the ban because its buses travel through the Iowa State campus. The petition alleges at least one CyRide route never crosses campus.

The law in question is Iowa Code Section 724.28, the state’s preemption statute. It bars cities, counties and townships from restricting the possession, carrying or transportation of firearms when those activities are lawful under state law. In plain terms, the state sets the gun rules and local governments cannot add their own. The statute also gives people adversely affected by a prohibited local rule a way to challenge it.

There is one carve-out. A local government can restrict carry in a building or physical structure it controls, but only if it screens everyone entering for dangerous weapons and provides armed security inside.

The penalties have teeth. For a knowing violation, the statute provides damages of $1,000 to $2,500 per day after written notice, capped at $25,000. Attorney fees, court costs and excess damages for good cause can come on top of that.

Gibson’s attorney told the Iowa State Daily that she has complied with the policy while riding CyRide, according to NSSF. He argues that Iowa State’s campus policy does not authorize a ban on lawful carry inside a vehicle that is simply passing through campus. Ames declined to comment, citing pending litigation. These are allegations, and Gibson still has to prove her claims in court.

More from USA Carry:

• Iowa House Panel Removes Restrictions on Gun Ownership, Proposes Further Change
• Firearm Policy Changes Progress in Iowa Legislature With Focus on Vehicles and School Property
• Texas Professor Quits Over Concealed Carry Law
• Concealed Carry Map Update | July 1, 2021
• Utah Issues New CCW Permit Cards

A bus rule never stays on the bus. Carry decisions get made at the front door, for the whole day. If the ride is off limits, the walk to the stop and the trip home are too. Anyone who relies on public transit has to plan around that, and it is the part of the carry mindset that local rules like this one touch most directly.

I will continue tracking Gibson’s lawsuit as it moves through Story County District Court.

Read the original story: Iowa State Student Who Helped Change Iowa Gun Law as a Kid Sues Ames Over CyRide Bus Gun Ban